Neural stimulation system to deliver different waveforms

Abstract

A method, electrical tissue stimulation system, and programmer for providing therapy to a patient are provided. Electrodes are placed adjacent tissue (e.g., spinal cord tissue) of the patient, electrical stimulation energy is delivered from the electrodes to the tissue in accordance with a defined waveform, and a pulse shape of the defined waveform is modified, thereby changing the characteristics of the electrical stimulation energy delivered from the electrode(s) to the tissue. The pulse shape may be modified by selecting one of a plurality of different pulse shape types or by adjusting a time constant of the pulse shape.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 presenting at least two defined waveforms on a user interface, wherein the at least two defined waveforms are available for user selection and have different defined waveform characteristics other than different pulse amplitudes, pulse widths or pulse rates;   using the user interface to select a defined waveform from the at least two defined waveforms presented on the user interface; and   outputting electrical stimulation energy to one or more electrical terminals in accordance with the defined waveform.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two defined waveforms are presented on the user interface using different icons. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two defined waveforms are presented on the user interface using text. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two defined waveforms are presented on the user interface using both icons and text. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface includes a touchscreen display, the at least two waveforms are presented on the touchscreen display, and the defined waveform is selected by touching one the defined waveforms presented on the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface includes at least one button configured for use to select the defined waveform from the at least two defined waveforms presented on the user interface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one button includes a toggle button configured for use to switch between two defined waveforms or among more than two defined waveforms. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising using the user interface to select a second defined waveform from the at least two defined waveforms presented on the user interface, and the electrical stimulation energy is outputted further in accordance with the second defined waveform. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising measuring one or more electrical characteristics of tissue, and modifying the defined waveform characteristic based on the measured one or more electrical characteristics. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more electrical characteristics of tissue includes impedance. 
     
     
         12 . A system, comprising:
 a user interface configured to present at least two defined waveforms available for user selection, wherein the at least two defined waveforms have different defined waveform characteristics other than different pulse amplitudes, pulse widths or pulse rates, wherein the user interface is configured to receive a user selection of a defined waveform from the at least two defined waveforms presented on the user interface; and   a stimulator configured to output electrical stimulation energy to one or more electrical terminals in accordance with the defined waveform.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface is configured to present the at least two defined waveforms using different icons. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface is configured to present the at least two defined waveforms using text. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface is configured to present the at least two defined waveforms using both icons and text. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface includes a touchscreen display configured to present the at least two waveforms are presented on the touchscreen display and configured to receive the user selection of the defined waveform by a user touching one the defined waveforms presented on the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface includes at least one button configured for use to select the defined waveform from the at least two defined waveforms presented on the user interface. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one button includes a toggle button configured for use to switch between two defined waveforms or among more than two defined waveforms. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface is configured to receive a user selection of a second defined waveform from the at least two defined waveforms presented on the user interface, and the stimulator is configured to output the electrical stimulation energy in accordance with the second defined waveform. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method, comprising:
 presenting at least two defined waveforms on a user interface, wherein the at least two defined waveforms are available for user selection and have different defined waveform characteristics other than different pulse amplitudes, pulse widths or pulse rates;   using the user interface to select a defined waveform from the at least two defined waveforms presented on the user interface; and   transmitting instructions to a stimulator for outputting electrical stimulation energy to one or more electrical terminals in accordance with the defined waveform.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the at least two defined waveforms are presented on the user interface using different icons, using text, or using different icons and text.